I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of [H]is sufferings by becoming like [H]im in [H]is death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3: 10, 11, NRSV.
Gracious God, we can only know You as You reveal Yourself to us. Please do this as we come into Your presence to study Your Word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
The desire of Paul is rather profound. To know Christ, by way of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings! Sufficient would have been to know Him by the power of His resurrection; because to be raised from the dead, one has to have died; and death could take any form. But Paul’s desire is to know, not only the power, but the suffering as well!
Going back to verses 4 thru 6; we find some very powerful reasons for Paul to boast: circumcision, according to the law; an Israelite, namely, a Benjamite; a true Hebrew; in the strict observance of the law, a Pharisee; proof of my zeal – a persecutor of the church of Christ; and if you measure me according to my observance of the law, you will find no fault; I was blameless! But these things constitute power, according to the flesh! Because of this I consider them nothing but rubbish, useless refuse!
After an encounter with Christ, we are never the same! Our zeal takes a different direction. Our pride is humbled. Our goals are changed. We have only one desire – to know Him, who to know is life eternal (John 17: 3)! This behavior change is typical of many people after we start on our journey to get to know Christ. It is rather interesting, because Christ Himself said, ” ‘If any want to become [M]y followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow [M]e…’ ” (Matthew 16: 24, NRSV).
Even more interesting, is the comparison, of the things that are really valuable, according to Paul; with what Christ says about those who want to become His followers. Note: Christ says: ” ‘For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for [M]y sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world, but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life (25, 26)? Emphasis provided. Now listen to Paul: “Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For [H]is sake I suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…” (Philippians 3: 7, 8).
Paul’s underlining passion was, “…becoming like [Christ] in [H]is death…,” and he was not disappointed! Through tribulation and persecution, and much self-denial; he died every day (1 Corinthians 15: 31)! The more self disappeared, the more clearly Christ could be seen. Less of Paul, meant more of Christ! Even as Christ “emptied [H]imself, …and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 7, 8), Paul would eventually obtain his soul’s desire. Before his death, Paul would have the joy of saying: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave [H]imself for me” (Galatians 2: 20)!
Paul experienced the “power” of Christ’s resurrection, when self died, and Christ rose, and sat upon the throne of his heart. Christ will do the same for us, if we ask Him to!